Poultry News

Chicken Producers React to TPP Trade Deal

CANADA - Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC) has reacted to the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, saying there are both positive and disappointing elements to the deal.

The organisation said in a statement that it was disappointed that Canada had had to concede extra market access for chicken, saying that Canada will be required to increase its market access for chicken by 28 per cent to almost 10 per cent of the country's consumption.

However, it also said that the agreement was seen as an important benefit to the Canadian economy, and that it is pleased with government plans to curb "loopholes" in importing laws.

CFC said that these current "fraudulent practices" include being able to import unlimited quantities of chicken by simply adding sauce or other ingredients, importing spent fowl and falsely declaring it as chicken, and allowing companies to substitute high-value imported cuts with low-value domestic cuts for re-export.

“The government understands that rules are being bent, loopholes are being exploited, and that people are getting away with outright fraud to the detriment of the Canadian chicken industry, the economy and the Canadian consumer,” said Dave Janzen, CFC Chair.

Meanwhile, the US' National Chicken Council (NCC) President Mike Brown said of the TPP conclusion: “NCC applauds US Trade Representative Michael Froman and his team of negotiators for their years of work on the TPP. The TPP represents a significant opportunity to expand US chicken exports and bring increased economic benefits to chicken farmers and companies across the country.

“Our major goals in this deal are to get a strong commitment on enforcement, in particular in the area of sanitary and phytosanitary measures. Second, we hope to see that the long-protected Canadian market is finally opened to free trade for poultry.

“We look forward to reviewing what we hope will be a commercially meaningful and high standard agreement that will open markets and increase US chicken exports.”